IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


// 


w^ 


:/- 


Ua 


1.0    fM  IIIIIM 


LI 


1.25 


'-  Ih    III  2.2 


lU 


1^ 


-    6' 


2.0 


1.8 


U    11.6 


.  nic 
Sciraices 
Corporation 


33  WE3T  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


iV 


.V 


^9) 


.V 


W.^ 


\\ 


O'^ 


<# 


.t^ 


•r 


^^^ 


0 

4^y  «< 


t^/ 


fc 
^ 


I 


CrHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  MIcroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notas  tachniquas  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha  Instituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  bast 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturas  of  this 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographicaliy  uniqua. 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagas  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
tha  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagAe 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  pelliculAe 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gicgraphiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (I.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avac  d'autres  documents 


D 


D 


D 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  llure  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorslon  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutAes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  itt  filmAes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  la  meilleur  exemplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  iti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Las  details 
de  cet  exemplaira  qui  sont  paut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thoda  normaie  de  filmage 
sont  indiqute  ci-dessous. 


D 

D 
D 
0 
D 
0 
D 
D 
D 
D 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur«es  et/ou  pellicuiies 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d^colories,  tacheties  ou  piquies 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ditachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  inigale  de  {'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pegss  totalemen*  ou  partiallement 
obscurc:es  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  film6es  A  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  tl  ^  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  e  i  taux  de  reduction  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 


10X 


14X 


18X 


22X 

IT" 
J 


26X 


30X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  film«d  h«r«  has  bean  reproduced  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

D.  B.  Weldon  Library 
University  of  Western  Ontario 
(Regional  History  Room) 

Tha  imagaa  appearing  hare  are  tha  beat  quality 
poaaibia  conaldering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  spaciflcationa. 


Original  copiaa  in  printed  paper  eovera  are  Aimed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  laat  page  with  a  printed  or  illuatrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copiaa  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impree- 
sion.  and  ending  on  the  laat  page  with  a  printed 
or  illuatrated  impreeaion. 


The  laat  recorded  frame  on  eech  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  appliaa. 

Mapa,  platea,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratioa.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
baginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  comer,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  framea  aa 
required.  The  following  diagrama  illuatrata  the 
method: 


L'exemplaira  film*  fut  reproduit  grAce  i  la 
g*niroaiti  da: 

D.  B.  Weldon  Library 
University  of  Western  Ontario 
(Regional  History  Room) 

Lea  imagaa  suivantea  ont  At*  reproduites  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattet*  de  l'exemplaira  film«,  at  en 
conformitA  avac  lea  conditiona  du  contrat  de 
fiimage. 

Lee  exemplairee  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  eat  imprimAe  sont  filmAs  en  commen^ant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  ampreinte 
d'impreaaion  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  te  second 
plat,  salon  la  caa.  Tous  las  autres  sxemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commenqant  par  la 
premiAre  page  qui  comporte  une  ampreinte 
d'impreaaion  ou  d'illustration  at  en  lerminant  par 
la  darniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
emprelnte. 

Un  dee  symbolea  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
darniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
caa:  le  symbols  -*'  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Lee  cartea.  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  pauvent  Atre 
filmAa  A  das  taux  de  rAduction  diff Arents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  soul  clichA.  il  est  fiimA  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  baa,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Las  diagrammes  suivaaits 
iilustrent  la  mAthode. 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

n,  -^ 


• 


O 


•#  »■ 


rN 


DISCOURSE, 


DELIVERED  ON  THE  ANNIVERSARY 


OP   THE 


HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  OF  MICHIGAN, 


JUNE,  1831. 


PUBIiISI»:gD  BY  REQUEST. 


BY  HENRY  WHITING. 


'•' 


Detroit: 

PRINTED  BY  GEO.  L.  WHITNEY, 
1831, 


•#  t 


'  * 


^  % 


EXTRACT  PHOM  THE  MINUTES  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 

^        ,.  July  7,  1831. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Ward, 

«eso/«erf,  That  there  be  a  committee  of  three  to  request  of  Major 
Whitmg,  a  copy  for  publicaUon,  of  the  discourse  delivered  by  him  on  the 
last  anmversary  of  the  Society;  in  which  were  happily  combined  many 
historical  facts,  illustrative  of  the  military  operations  in  the  Territory,  and 
just  views  of  the  character  and  conduct  of  the  principal  actors. 

Resolved,  That  the  committee  be  authorised  to  contract  for  its  publica- 
tion. '^ 

Messrs.  Ward,  Porter,  and  Lyon,  were  appointed  that  committee. 


ADDRESS. 


Q 


Gentlemen  of  the  Histomcal  Society  : 

The  first  settlement,  and  early  history  of  Michitran 
have  already  been  detailed  by  one  of  my  predecessors  •' 
I  shall  therefore  begin  at  a  later  period,  and  reviewing 
such  events  of  character  and  importance  as  have  had  an 
mfluence  on  its  destiny,  trace  them  down  to  the  close  of 
the  late  war. 

The  treaty  of  1783,  which  terminated  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  included  Michigan  within  the  boundaries  of 
the  United  States.     It  continued,  however,  under  the 
dominion  of  Great  Britain  for  some  years  after  that  date. 
But,  preparatory  to  taking  possession    r  it,  and  in  order 
to  avoid  collision  with  the  Indian  triod  which  owned 
the  soil,  a  treaty  was  held  with  them  by  General  Clark 
at  Fort  M'Intosh,  in  1785,  by  which  they  ceded  their 
title  to  all  lands  lying  within  a  line  drawn  from  the  mouth 
of  the  river  Raisin,  to  a  point  six  miles  above,  and  thence 
runnmg  at  that  distance  from  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie  and 
the  river  Detroit,  until  it  should  strike  Lake  St.  Clair. 

2 


# 


4  6 

At  Fort  Ilanmnr,  two  ynars  subscqiionfly,  the  Island  ot 
Michillimackiiiac,  with  a  circumference  of  twelve  miles, 
was  ceded  in  the  same  manner. 

But  the  Territory  thus  secured  by  a  treaty  with  Great 
JJritain,  and  with  the  Indian  tribes  of  which  we  had  thus 
established  an  amicable  understanding,  was  many  years 
scquestorcd  from  our  possession.  The  cause,  as  well  as 
the  general  consequences,  of  this  international  difficulty, 
arc  familiar  to  every  reader  of  history,  and  do  not  come 
within  the  scope  of  this  address.  But  the  intimate  relation 
®  which  General  Wayne's  campaign  of  1794  had  with  the 

formal  surrender  of  the  country  to  its  rightful  proprietor, 
makes  it  an  essential  part  of  the  history,  which  it  is  the 
object  of  this  society  to  embody.  His  operations  were 
beyond  the  boundary  of  Michigan,  but  the  results  may 
be  said  to  have  determined  its  subsequent  destiny. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  year  1793,  General  Wayne" 
rc-occupied  the  ground  which  had  been  rendered  memo- 
rable by  the  disastrous  defeat  of  St.  Clair,  three  years 
before,  and  there  built  a  stockade  work,  which  was 
significantly  called  Fort  Recovery.  While  engaged  in 
this  labor,  he  offered  a  small  reward  for  every  human 
skull  which  should  be  found  on  the  battle  ground.  More 
than  five  hundred  of  these  relics  of  carnage  arc  said  to 
have  been  collected,  and  entombed  beneath  one  of  the 
#     Block-Houses  of  the  work. 

Leaving  a  suitable  garrison  at  Fort  Recovery,  General 
Wayne  returned  to  Fort  Jefferson,  and  wintered  there 
with  the  main  body  of  his  army.  He  had  already  been 
admonished  that  an  active,  dexterous  and  powerful  ene- 
my was  in  the  wilderness  surrounding  him ;  for,  while 

^P  *  Foi-  tlie  principal  details  of  General  Wayne's  campaign,  I  am  mainly 

indebted  to  a  Manuscript  Journal  of  Brigadier  General  Brady,  of  the 
United  States  Army,  who  began  his  long  and  serviceable  iuid  honorable 
military  career,  as  a  Lieutenant,  in  that  campaign. 


^  * 


• 


advancmpr  towai-<ls  Fori  Joircrsoii,  his  rear  guard  liad 
been  attacked  and  entirely  discomfited.  Jii  June  1791, 
l>efore  tlie  army  liad  Iclt  its  winter  qiiaitcrs,  a  detachment! 
which  had  been  to  Fort  Kccovery  as  an  escort  of  pro- 
visions, foil  into  an  ambush  of  Indians  about  a  mile  from 
the  Fort,  and  was  driven  back  with  great  loss ;  the  victors 
continuing  the  pursuit  to  the  very  gates,  which  they 
endeavored  to  enter  with  the  fugitives. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1794,  General  Wayne  began  his 
march  from  Fort  Recovery,  and  took  up  the  track  of  the 
Indians,  who  had  left  it  obviously  mai'ked  in  their  rear, 
either  from  the  haste  with  which  they  made  it,  or,  what 
is  more  probable,  because  they  were  desirous  of  luring 
him  still  farther  into  the  recesses  of  the  wilderness.     At 
the  crossing  of  the  St.  Mary's  river.  Fort  Adams  was 
built ;  and  during  the  halt  there,  a  man  belonging  to  the 
Contractor's  Department,  deserted  to  the  Indians,  and 
carried  to  them  the  infoimation  of  the  movements  oi" 
the  army.  In  consecjueacc  of  this  notice.  General  Wavne, 
when  he  arrived  at  the  confluence  of  the  Anglaise  with 
the?  Maumcc,  found  their  villages  abandoned.     Several 
days  were  spent  at  this  place  in  building  Fort  Defiance, 
and  awaiting  the  return  of  a  small  party  of  spies,  which, 
under  the  direction  of  Captain  Wells,  had  been  sent 
forward  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy.     This  skillful  and 
intrepid  warrior  of  the  woods,  led  his  party  within  so 
siiort  a  distance  of  the  British  works,  as  to  ascertain  that 
the  Indians  were  encamped  under  its  protection.    He 
took  one  or  two  prisoners,   and  made  a  bold  though 
unsucc  v^ful  attempt  on  a  camp  of  warriors  in  the  night, 
in  which  he  was  wounded.     Soon  after  his  return,  the 
army  moved  slowly  and  cautiously  down  the  left  bank 
of  the  Maumee.    During  the  march,  General  Wayne 
despatched  messengers  of  peace  to  the  Indians,  in  the 


# 


liopc  thnt  n  hattlo  might  still  he  nvouiod.  On  the  IfUh 
of  August,  he  reached  the  Knpids,  nhout  lour  miles  above 
the  British  Post.  He  there  erected  a  small  work  lor  the 
protection  of  his  baggage  und  stores,  and  on  the  20th 
again  advanced. 

The  British  post  had  been  occupied  by  a  garrison 
sent  from  Detroit  the  previous  spring.     There  could  be 
no  misapprehension  of  the  motives  which  led  to  this 
occupation,  taking  place  as  it  did,  several  years  after  the 
treaty  by  which  the  country  had  been  ceded  »o  the  United 
States,  and  at  a  time,  too,  when  the  angry  id  protracted 
negociation  of  several  years,  relating  to  it,  was  supposed 
to  be  about  to  terminate  in  an  open  rupture.   The  Indians 
were  all  decidedly  friendly  to  the  British.     With  the 
jealousy  natural  to  wc  nkness,  thoy  were  always  prone  to 
array  themselves  against  the  power  which  most  directly 
pressed  upon  their  destinies,  and  which  thev  thought 
most  likely  to  affect  them  injuriously.     The  British  were 
fully  aware  of  this  feeling,  which  their  agents   were 
zealously  active  to  excite  and  foster.    They  saw  in  it 
the  means  of  crippling  the  growth  of  a  young  rival,  who 
was  stretching  out  into  the  west  with  giant  strides,  and 
trampling  down  the  forests  on  every  side.     The  country 
had  been  ceded  and  secured  by  a  treaty  still  in  force ; 
but  new  negociations  were  then  going  on  under  the 
mfluence  of  several  disastrous  defeats,  and  as  the  Indians 
demanded  an  independent  dominion  over  the  country  in 
dispute,  the  British  government  might  expect  that  a 
surrender,  so  desirable  to  them,  would  at  last  bo  granted. ' 
A  proposition  of  a  similar  character  was  made  by  the 
same  government  towards  the  close  of  the  last  war.   The 
entire  independence  of  the  Indians  occupying  a  wide 
belt  on  our  north-western  frontiers,  was  formally  and 
seriously  demanded,  as  one  of  the  conditions  oi  peace. 


,1 


As  long  as  the  forinidahic  coalition  of  trihcs  which 
Goncrnl  Wayne  found  in  arms,  should  continue;  united 
and  hostile,  it  was  evident  that  the  British  pretensions 
and  hopes  would  remain.    It  was  therefore,  of  groat 
moment  with  General  Wayne,  and  with  his  country,  that 
his  present  steps  should  be  taken  with  the  utmost  pru- 
dence.    A  new  defeat,  like  that  which  had  terminated 
almost  every   previous  campaign,  would  have  proved, 
not  only  destructive  to  his  army,  so  fur  advanced  in  the 
wilderness,  but  probably  decided  the  British  to  openly 
espouse  the  cause  of  the  Indians.     General  Wayne,  in 
the  present  case,  could  feel  no  assurance  that  this  cause 
would  not  then  be  sustained  by  such  co-operation  as  the 
Fort  and  Garrison  could  afford.     Indeed,  the  position  of 
the   Indians,  under  the  walls  of  the  Fort,  rendered  it 
probable  that  such  a  course  had  been  determined  on.     In 
that  event,  it  is  said  that  General  Wayne  had  instiu^uons 
to  act  offensively  against  the  Post.      There  does  not, 
however,  appear  to  be  any  testimony  to  this  surmise  on 
record.     But  it  is  not  necessary ;  for  under  such  circum- 
stances,  no  other  authority  would  have  been  required, 
than  the  ordinary  and  acknowledged  rules  of  warfare! 
If  the  British  garrison  had  been  found  by  Gen'l  Wayne 
actually  co-operating  with  the  Indians,  it  would  at  once 
have  become  equally  obnoxious  with  them  to  his  hostility, 
and  as  legitimate  an  object  of  attack. 

General  Wayne  had  about  three  thousand  men  under 
his  command,  and  the  Indians  arc  computed  lo  have  been 
equally  numerous.  This  is  not  improbable,  as  the  hostile 
league  embraced  the  whole  North- Western  frontier.  As 
he  approached  the  position  of  the  enemy,  he  sent  forward 
a  battalion  of  momitcd  riflemen,  which  was  ordered,  in 
case  of  an  attack,  to  malx  *)  retreat  in  feigned  confusion, 
in  order  to  draw  the  Indians  on  more  disadvantageous 


# 


]() 


!■ 


-m 


Ml  i 


la  ! 
IP 


• 


i>roiin(l.  As  was  anlicipalod,  llus  advance  soon  met  the 
enemy,  and  heing  tired  on,  (ell  back,  and  was  warmly 
jjursued  lownrds  the  main  body, 

Tiic  morning  wns  rainy,  and  the  drums  could  not 
communicate  the  concerted  signals  with  sufficient  dis- 
tinctness. A  plan  ol  turning  ihe  right  flank  of  the  Indians 
was  not  therefore  fulfilled.  But  tiie  victory  was  complete, 
the  whole  Indian  line,  after  a  severe  contest,  giving  way, 
and  flying  in  disorder.  About  one  hundred  savages  were 
killed. 

During  the  action  and  subsequently,  while  General 
Wayne  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  the  British,  there  did 
not  appear  to  be  any  intercourse  between  the  garrison 
and  the  savages.     The  gates  were   kept  shut  against 
them,  and  their  route  and  slaughter  were  witnessed  from 
the  walls  with  apparent  unconcern,  and  without  ofl'ering 
any  interposition  or  assistance.     After  the  battle,  Gen. 
Wayne  devastated  all  the  fields,  and  burnt  all  the  dwell- 
ings around  the  Fort,  some  of  tiiem  immediately  under 
tlic  walls.     The  house  of  Col.  M'Kee,  an  Indian  trader, 
who  was  supposed  to  have   exercised   great  influence 
over  the  Indians,  was  reduced  to  ashes  in  the  general 
conflagration.     During  this  work  of  desolation,  a  cor- 
respondence took  place  between  General  Wayne  and 
Major  Campbell,  the  British  commandant,  which  inevita- 
bly assumed  a  somewhat  belligerent  character :  but  the 
l^rudent  forbearance  of  the  latter,  who  concluded  not  to 
extend  his  interference  beyond  remonstrance,  averted  an 
attack  on  himself,  which  would  have  followed  any  more 
serious  or  efficacious  opposition. 

That  the  Indians  did  not  expect  to  find  such  luke- 
warmness  in  their  Anglo-friends,  and  even  that  they 
regarded  the  Fort  as  a  refugs  in  case  of  misfortune,  is 
probable  from  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  and  rendered 


11 

almost  unquestionable,  by  the  well  known  rcproaclroi 
Tcciimsch,  in  his  celebrated  speech  to  General  Proctor, 
'ioon  after  Perry's  victory  in  1813, 

After  remaining  in  the  neighljorhoofl  of  the  Fort  three 
<lays,  General  Wayne  retired  by  easy  marches,  to  Fort 
Defiance,  destroying  the  Indian  corn-fields,  which  were 
spread  over  the  rich  bottoms  of  the  Maumee,  in  his 
progress.    This  measure  of  stern  hostility,  was  justified 
by  the  probability,  that  fear  of  famine  would  be  a  powerful 
auxiliary  in  producing  peace.    The  morning  before  the 
army  made  this  retrograde  movement,  General  Wayne, 
after  arranging  his  force  in  such  a  manner  as  to  show 
that  they  were  all  on  the  alert,    advanced   with  his 
numerous  staff  and  a  small  body  of  cavalry,  to  the  glacis 
of  the  Rritish  Post,  reconnoitering  it  with  great  delibera- 
tion, -     .ic  the  garrison  was  seen  with  matches  lighted, 
and  all  prepared  for  any  cme-gency.    It  is  said  that 
General  Wayne's  party  overheard  one  of  the  British 
subordinate  officers,  who  appealed  to  Major  Campbell 
for  permission  to  fire  on  the  cavalcade,  and  avenge  such 
an  insulting  parade  under  his  Majesty's  guns.  "^But  it 
appears  that  the  British  commandant  restrained  h"  5  loyal 
indignation,  and  sufllered  the  American  General  to  retire 
unharmed  from  a  reconnoisance,  which,  had  it  encounter- 
ed less  forbearance,  might  have  given  a  new  proof  how 
truly  he  merited  the  popular  name  of  "  mad  Anthony." 
Leaving  Major  Hunt  in  command  of  Fort  Defiance, 
General  Wayne  moved  still  higher  up  the  river  to  the 
old  Miami   towns,  where  he  built  Fort   Wayne.     Col. 
Ilamtramck  was  left  at  this  Post,  and  General  Wayne 
returned  with  the  main  body  of  the  army  to  Greenville. 
The  campaign  lasted  about  three  months,  and  resulted 
in  a  most   signal  overthrow  of  the  Indians,  and,  what 
was  perhaps  of  more  importance  to  the  future  peace  oC 


!  f  F 


18 

the  country — of  the  insidious  schemes  of  tlic  BritisJi 
Government.  Several  posts  were  estabhshcd  in  tlie  hos- 
tile region,  securing  the  ground  which  had  been  gained, 
and  admonishing  the  Indians  that  it  would  bo  prudent  to 
submit  to  a  power  which  had  gained  an  ascendency  over 
them  too  formidable  to  be  resisted. 

The  treaty  of  Greenville  was  not  concluded  until  the 
following  August ;  but  it  does  not  appear  that  any  active 
hostilities  troubled  the  frontiers  during  the  intermediate 
period.  Jay's  treaty,  which  adjusted  our  difficulties  with 
Great  Britain,  at  least  as  far  as  related  to  the  Indian 
country,  had  occurred  in  the  mean  time,  and,  leaving  the 
tribes  little  or  no  hope  of  foreign  co-operation,  disposed 
them  to  a  general  peace. 

The  articles  of  the  treaty  of  Greenville  which  relates 
to  Michigan,  recapitulated  with  some  enlargement,  the 
•substance  of  the  previous  treaties.  The  belt,  or  strip,  of 
six  miles  width,  reaching  from  the  river  Raisin  to  Lake 
St.  Clair,  and  several  local  cessions,  still  confined  the 
scope  for  a  white  population  to  within  very  narrow 
limits.  But  the  most  sanguine  mind  did  not  probably 
then  anticipate  the  time  when  there  would  be  a  necessi- 
ty to  enlarge  that  scope.  The  country  had  been  deemed 
important  for  military  occupation,  and  for  the  fur  trade ; 
it  was  still  regarded  in  no  other  light ;  and  the  wildest 
prophesy  did  not  venture  to  predict  a  more  exalted 
destiny.  , 

Between  the  ratification  and  execution  of  Jay's  treaty, 
a  scheme,  most  vitally  affecting  the  fortunes  of  Michigan, 
was  concerted  between  two  or  three  adventurous  pro- 
jectors from  the  States,  and  a  number  of  merchants  or 
traders  at  Detroit,  which,  although  eventuating  in  a  fail- 
ure, was  too  ambitious  and  exorbitant,  not  to  deserve  a 
record  among  the  singular  incident  •  tli^t  marked  its  early 


.1 


the  British 
in  the  hos- 
len  gained, 
prudent  to 
lency  over 

d  until  the 
any  active 
ermediate 
ulties  with 
the  Indian 
eaving  the 
I,  disposed 

ch  relates 
inent,  the 
>r  strip,  of 
u  tcLake 
nfined  the 
y  narrow 
probably 
a  necessi- 
n  deemed 
fur  trade ; 
ic  wildest 
e  exalted 

y's  treaty, 
Michigan, 
irous  pro- 
chants  or 
in  a  fail- 
leserve  a 
1  its  early 


^  18 

history.     During  the  session  of  Congress  held  in  1795, 
Robert  Randall  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Charles  Whitney 
of  Vermont,  were  taken  into  custody  by  the  House,  for 
«  an  unwarrantable  attempt  to  corrupt  the  integrity  of 
its  members."    This  Robert  Randall,  in  pursuit  of  some 
object  in  which  he  failed,  visited  Detroit,  where  his 
inventive  genius  unfolded  to  him  a  new  and  more  mag- 
nificent  plan  of  improving  his  fortunes.     In  conjunction 
with  Charles  Whitney,  and  one  other  person,  he  entered 
into  an  agreement  with  seven  merchants  residing  at  or 
near  Detroit,  by  which  the  parties  bound  themselves  to 
obtain  a  preemption  right  from  the  United  States,  of  a 
certain  Territory  therein  defined,  which  was  to  be  af- 
terwards  purchased  of  the  Indians,      this  Territory 
contained,  as  it  was  conjectured,  from  eighteen  to  twenty 
thousand  acres,  and  was  embraced  by  the  Lakes  Erie, 
Huron,   and  Michigan.       Six  members  of  Congress 
deposed  before  that  body,  that  Randall  and  Whitney  had, 
at  several  times  and  places,  unfolded  to  them  their 
scheme,  by  which  it  appeared  that  the  Territory  in 
question  was  to  be  divided  into  forty-one  shares,  five  of 
which  were  to  belong  to  the  traders  at  Detroit,  who  were 
parties  to  the  agreement,— six  to  be  appropriated  to  Ran- 
dall  and  his  associates,~and  the  other  twenty-four  to  be 
equally  divided  between  such   northern  and  southern 
members  of  Congress,  as  should  by  their  votes  or  exer- 
tions, secure  the  enactment  of  the  law  necessary  to  pro- 
mote the  project.     The  amount  proposed  to  be  paid  to 
the  United  States  for  the  right  to  make  this  purchase  of 
the  Indians,  was  from  a  half  to  a  million  of  dollars.    The 
merchants  who  were  associated,  were  represented  to 
have  such  influence  over  the  Indians,  as  to  render  feasible 
the  purchase  of  their  title  to  the  soil.     To  the  suggestion 
made  by  some  of  the  members,  that  the  late  treaty  oppo- 

3 


t 


I. 


If  I 

■if  ■ 


11. 


Is'  .■-  » 


14 

setl  ii  har,  as  it  reserved  to  the  United  States  exclusively 
this  preemption  right,  it  v^as  alleged  that  the  Indians 
were  dissatisfied  with  the  terms  of  the  treaty,  and  would 
not  abide  by  them ;  and  that  this  plan  would  appease 
them,  and  secure  tranquility  throughout  that  section  of 
the  country. 

The  more  particular  details  of  this  extraordinary  pro- 
ject, are  recorded  in  the  Journal  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, by  which  it  appears  that,  after  having  been 
kept  in  custody  some  time,  and  subjected  to  an  examina- 
tion at  the  bar  of  the  House,  Whitney  was  discharged 
without  punishment,  while  Randall  received  a  public 
reprimand  fr^  the  Speaker,  and  was  obliged  to  pay  the 
fees  which  hm  accrued  in  his  case. 

It  would  be  useless  to  hazard  conjectures  as  to  the 
effect  which  a  more  successful  prosecution  of  this  enter- 
prise would  have  had  on  the  fortunes  of  this  Territory. 
Falling  under  the  control  of  a  few  large  proprietors,  the 
progress  of  settlement  might  have  been  accelerated  or 
retarded,  according  to  the   ability  with  which  it  was 
conducted.    The  state  of  weakness  and  pupilage,  which 
kept  the  wilderness  of  Michigan  intact  and  intangible 
for  more  than  twenty  years,  might  have  been  suddenly 
converted  into  a  vigorous  growth  of  population,  by  the 
active  management  of  an  association,  deeply  interested 
in  its  advancement  and  prosperity;  or,  what  is  more 
probable,  the  immigration  which  has  been  within  a  few 
years  flowing  into  the  Peninsula,  and  has  already  filled 
the  interior  with  thriving  villages  and  farms,  might  have 
been  repulsed  or  checked  by  the  illiberality  or  cupidity 
of  a  proprietory  despotism. 

The  possesion  of  the  Territory  in  1 796,  immediately 
extended  over  it  the  ordinance  of  1787,  which  was  al- 
ready  in  operation  in    the  Nortli-Wcstern   Territory, 


El  «  I  ■■    ' 


;#• 


ill 


u 


within  whose  hmits  Michigan  was  ombracecL  Though 
small  in  population,  yet  its  inconvenient  remoteness  from 
the  centre  of  the  territorial  government,  which  was  at 
Cincinnati,  was  severely  felt.  The  erection  of  this  into 
a  separate  state  did  not  mitigate  the  condition  of  Michi- 
gan in  this  respect.  She  was  still  as  far  from  the  central 
government  as  ever,  and  every  political  inconvenience 
remained  unchanged. 

January  11,  1805,  Indiana  being  erected  into  a  sepa- 
rate state,  the  residue  of  the  North- Western  Territory 
was  divided  into  two  Territories,  Illinois  and  Michigan  ; 
and  on  the  1st  July,  the  same  year,  the  territorial  govern- 
ment of  the  latter  was  organised  at  Detroit  by  General 
William  Hull,  the  newly  appointed  Goveiior.     On  the 
1 1th  of  the  previous  June,  Detroit  had  been  destroyed  by 
fire.     Having  been  built  amid  a  savage  and  often  hostile 
population,  Detroit,  like  most  frontier  places,  had  been 
compressed  within  a  very  small  compass,  having  streets 
which  scarcely  exceeded  the  breadth  of  common  alleys, 
and  the  whole  surrounded  by  a  stockade.    The  Fort* 
was  on  the  outside  of  this  stockade,  and  behind  the  town. 
The  buildings  were  of  wood,  and  contiguous  to  each 
other,  and  being  for  the  most  part  old.  were  highly  com- 
bustible.   The  fire  broke  out  in  a  stable,  about  10  o'clock 
in  the  morning.     The  atmosphere  was  calm  at  this  time ; 
but,  as  is  common  in  such  cases,  the  spreading  flames 
soon  created  a  wind,  which  at  once  fanned  them  into 
fury.   At  the  end  of  three  or  four  hours,  but  two  buildings 
were  standing,  the  one  a  store  housef  belonging  to  Mr. 

*  This  Fort  was  erected  by  Major  Le  Noult,  in  177-,  when  Detroit 
was  tlueatcned  by  General  Clarke  from  Vincenncs.  It  was  called  Fort 
Shelby  after  the  late  war ;  and  was  destroyed  in  1827,  the  ground  having 
Ixjen  ceded  by  Congress  to  the  town  of  Detroit. 

fThis  store-house,  the  last  remnant  of  the  old  town,  was  taken  down 
m  1830, 


I 


.        *::     f  i 


16 

M'Intosli,  tlic  otiier  a  bake-house  at  the  waters'  edge. 
The  cntiic  population  of  the  town  was  thus  rendered 
houseless,  and,  leaving  the  smouldering  ruins,  encamped 
on  the  commons  in  the  rear.  In  this  situation  Governor 
Hull  found  his  people.  It  was  a  melancholy  commence- 
ment of  his  administration,  and  it  was  nearly  as  perplexing 
as  melancholy.  Impatient  in  their  distresses  under  delay, 
some  of  the  proprietors  had  begun  to  rebuild  on  the  old 
sites,  and  thus  to  renew  the  town  on  its  former  cramped 
and  inconvenient  plan.  Others  were  for  appropriating 
at  once  the  vacant  commons  without  the  stockade,  to  the 
benefit  of  the  sufferers. 

General  Hull,  immediately  on  his  arrival,  turned  his 
attention  to  ttis  urgent  subject,  and  laid  out  the  town  in 
its  present  shape,  subject  to  the  approval  of  Congress. 
The  arrangement  of  the  plan  has  been  attributed  to  Judge 
Woodward;  one  of  the  judges  of  the  territorial  court  at 
that  time.    He  regarded  it  as  one  that  combined  aii  the 
excellencies  which  could  be  culled  from  previous  plans, 
from  that  of  Constantinople  to  that  of  Washington  city. 
It  was  upon  a  magnificent  scale,  and  unfolded  an  outline, 
which,  he  often  declared,  would  require  eight  centuries 
to  fill  up.     This  was  assigning  an  ample  period  for  the 
consummation  of  almost  any  human  project.    But  the 
plan,  however  admirable  in  theory,  has  proved  inconve- 
nient in  practice.     It  has  entailed  embarrassment  on  the 
place,  which  will  probably  perpetuate  the  projector's 
name  through  a  long  posterity,  but  without  those  enco- 
miums  which  were  perhaps  anticipated.  A  less  ambitious 
and  innovating  genius,  would  have  followed  the  guide  of 
William   Penn,   and  thus  have    introduced   simplicity, 
symmetry,  and  convenience,  when  now  appear  little 
else  than  excentricity,  irregularity,  and  perplexity. 
At  this  time,  the  land  at  the  disposal  of  the  government, 


waters'  edge, 
lus  rendered 
IS,  encamped 
ion  Governor 
^  commence- 
as  perplexing 
under  delay, 
Id  on  the  old 
ner  cramped 
ippropriating 
ckade,  to  the 

1,  turned  his 
the  town  in 
)f  Congress, 
ted  to  Judge 
>rial  court  at 
ained  aii  the 
jvious  plans, 
lington  city, 
d  an  outline, 
;ht  centuries 
riod  for  the 
t.    But  the 
3d  inconve- 
nent  on  the 
projector's 
those  enco- 
Js  ambitious 
the  guide  of 
simplicity, 
ppear  little 
axity. 
overnnoent, 


•1  '^ 

!j  or  which  could  be  appropriated  to  cultivation  by  the 

I  whites,  was  the  narrow  strip  before  alluded  to,  running 

I  from  the  River  Raisin  to  Lake  St.  Clair.    The  policy  of 

J  the  French  Government,  while  the  country  was  in  its 

I  possession,  did  not  appear  to  aim  at  improvement  of  the 

«soil.  Settlements  for  agriculture  were  not  therefore 
encouraged.  Only  a  few  grants  of  land  were  made,  and 
traffic  with  the  Indians  for  furs  seems  to  have  been  the 
only  object  in  view.  The  inhabitants  became  in  some 
degree  incorporated  with  the  aborigines,  and  the  wide 
spread  interior  was  preserved  as  a  waste,  for  the  better 
propagation  of  the  fur-bearing  animals.  The  English 
pursued  a  similar  policy.  No  effort  appears  to  have  been 
made,  while  they  occupied  the  country,  to  enlarge  the 
boundaries  of  cultivation. 

In  November,  1807,  Governor  Hull  held  a  treaty  at 

nj  Brownstown  with  the  Peninsula  Tribes,  which  added  all 

the  lands,  not  before  possessed  under  former  treaties, 

within  a  line  running  on  the  exterior  or  western  side  of 

H  the  counties  of  Lenawe,  Washtenaw,  Shiawasfa,  and 

I  Sagana.     But  the  lands  thus  acquired  were  no*,  brought 

into  market  until  the  year  1817. 
I  The  new  town  of  Detroit  was  without  other  defence, 

than  the  Fort  in  its  rear,  until  1807  or  8,  when  the 
threatening  movements  of  some  of  the  neighboring  tribes 
of  Indians,  led  to  the  erection  of  a  stockade  around  it, 
which  was  not  removed  until  1817. 

The  Territory  of  Michigan,  though  on  the  skirts  of  the 
United  States,  and,  by  its  remoteness  from  tiie  coast, 
would  seem  to  have  been  almost  independent  of  the 
effects  of  a  war  with  Great  Britain,  yet,  by  an  inauspi- 
cious  train  of  events,  she  was  made  almost  the  first 
victim  of  that  which  broke  out  in  1812.  Previous  to  the 
declaration  of  war,  but  while  that  Congress  was   in 


n 


16 


)  ' 


l: 


session  which  made  it,  Governor  Hull  was  in  Washington. 
A  plan  appears  to  linvc  been  concerted  while  he  was 
there,  having  that  event  in  anticipation.    His  knowledge 
of  tlie  North-western  frontier,  combined  with  his  civil 
position,  which  gave   him  control    over  many  of  its 
resources,  made  it  expedient  to  vest  him  with  military 
command.     He  was  accordingly  appointed  a  Brigadier 
General  in  the  army  of  the  United  States.  In  justification 
of  this  appointment— the  propriety  of  which  the  public 
was  led,  by  subsequent  events,  much  to  question,  it 
should  be  recollected,   that   Governor    Hull    left    the 
Revolutionary  army  with  the  rank  of  Major,  and  a 
military  reputation  inferior  to  few  Officers  of  his  grade, 
having  frequently  distinguished  himself  by  his  gallantry 
and  good  conduct  in  action,  so  as  to  receive  the  commen- 
dation of  Washington  in  General  Orders.  This  appoint- 
ment of  Brigadier  General  he  at  first  declined,  and  an 
officer,  already  in  service,  was  selected  for  the  Noi-th- 
western   command.      This  Officer,  however,  through 
sickness,  or  some  other  cause,  not  being  able  to  assume 
it,  Governor  Hull  was  induced  to  accept  the  appointment 
of  Brigadier  General ;  and,  in  fulfilment  of  the  plan  of 
operations,  immediately  proceeded  to  Ohio,  where  the 
4th  Regiment  of  Infantry,  and  a  body  of  volunteers, 
were  in  readiness  to  receive  his  orders.    With  this  force 
he  commenced  his  march  for  Detroit.    War  had  not 
then  been   declared,    but    the  prospect  of  it  was   so 
immediate,  that  it  would  seem  to  have  been  the  part  of 
prudence  to  have  acted  with  the  same  caution,  as  if  it 
had  been   so.     Contrary,  however,  to  such  a  course, 
General  Hull,  on  his  arrival  at  Maumee,  near  Lake  Erie, 
freighted  a  vessel,  which  received  the  laggage  and  stores' 
of  the  army,  a  few  individuals,  and  afso  some  importfuil 
documents.     This  vessel  sailed  for  Detroit,  and  took  the 


i^aslungton. 
lile  he  was 
knowledge 
111  liis  civil 
any  of  its 
th  military 
I  Brigadier 
ustification 
the  public 
question,  it 
1   left    the 
jor,  and  a 
his  grade, 
i  gallantry 
!  commen- 
is  appoint- 
ed, and  an 
he  Noi-th- 
•,  through 
to  assume 
pointment 
e  plan  of 
where  the 
olunteers, 
this  force 
'  had  not 
'■  was   so 
c  part  of 
n,  as  if  it 
I  course, 
akc  Erie, 
nd  stores 
mporlont 
took  the 


1ft 

usual  i)assng(;  into  the  Detroit  Hiver,  which  is  by  the  way 
of  Maiden.  The  day  after  her  departure,  General  Hull 
received  official  information  of  the  declaration  of  war, 
and  soon  re-commenced  his  march  for  Detroit,  where  he 
arrived  on  the  9th  July.* 

The  vessel  which  had  been  sent  from  the  Maumee,  as 
it  approached  Maiden,  was  captured  by  a  detachment 
from  the  Garrison  at  that  place  without  resistance.     It 
does  not  appear  that  the  party  on  board  was  directed  to 
be  on  its  guard,  or  prepared  for  such  an  event.     The 
British  boarded  the  vessel,  gave  notice  of  hostilities,  and 
took  possession.  Sent  into  the  very  jaws  of  the  expected 
enemy,  resistance  with  such  means  as  were  provided, 
would  probably  have  been  unavailing ;  but  she  might  have 
been  directed  to  take  a  less  exposed  channel,  or  fitted 
for  the  emergency  which  happened.     Much  insight  into 
the  intended  operations  of  the  Americans  is  said  to  have 
been  obtained  by  this  unlucky  capture.     It  appears  that 
the  British  had  been  some  days  apprized  of  our  declara- 
tion of  war.     With  a  forecast  eminently  required  at  such 
critical   conjunctures,  the    British   Diplomatists   about 
Washington  urged  forward  the  eventful  tidings  to  all 
their  frontiers  with  the  utmost  alacrity  ;  and  every  Post 
was  so  forewarned  as  to  give  it  the  advantage  of  initial 
operations.     While,  under  existing  circumstances,  it  was 
undoubtedly  the  duty  of  General  Hull  to  have  acted 
with  the  same  heed  as  if  war  had  actually  been  declared, 
yet,  there  can  be  no  excuse  for  the  tardy  and  blundering 
movements  of  the  War  Department,  which  suffered  itself, 
in  almost  every  instance,  to  be  outstripped  by  the  superior 

*  For  many  of  the  details  of  General  Hull's  campaign,  and  of  the  sub- 
sequent military  incidents  of  the  North-western  frontier,  I  am  indebted  to 
a  memoir  read  before  the  Lyceum  of  Detroit,  in  181!),  by  Major  Rowland, 
who  was  ail  olliccr  in  the  Uuilcd  States  Army,  durin;;  the  late  war,  and 
served  on  that  frontier. 


•0 


i? 


j0 


alertness  of  the  enemy ;  and  left  almost  the  whole 
North-western  frontier  from  Niagara  to  Prairie  du  Chien, 
witli  scarcely  a  precautionary  intimation,  to  be  vigilant 
and  prepared  for  hostility. 

On  the  9th  of  July,  General  Hull  received  orders  to 
cross  the  River  Detroit,  and  take  possession  of  Canada. 
His  command  had  been  impatient  to  make  the  movement, 
and  had  urged  it  upon  him  immediately  after  his  arrival. 
At  such  a  moment,  all  procrastination  was  in  favor  of  the 
enemy,  as  each  day  increased  his  strength,  and  diminished 
the  chances  of  success.  The  garrison  of  Maiden  was  at 
that  time  small,  and  without  any  immediate  resource 
except  from  a  few  of  the  Canadian  Militia,  who  were 
rather  reluctant  and  feeble  auxiliaries, — and  probably 
awaited  only  the  approach  of  General  Hull,  whose  force 
was  comparatively  overwhelming,  to  surrender. 

Preparation  having  been  made  for  the  transit,  General 
Hull  took  possession  of  the  Canadian  shore  on  the  12th 
July,  and  established  his  Head  Quarters  at  Sandwich. 
The  inhabitants  were  invited  to  come  in  and  receive 
protection,  which  would  ensure  them  the  privileges  of 
friends.  Many  were  induced  by  the  paramount 
dominion  which  the  Americans  appeared  to  possess  over 
the  country,  and  the  probability  that  they  would  preserve 
it,  to  transfer  their  allegiance,  or,  at  least,  to  assume  a 
neutrality.  ^^ 

Under  pretext  that  heavy  artillery  was  necessary  to  an 
attack  on  the  Fort  at  Maiden,  the  army  lay  inactive  at 
Sandwich  from  the  12th  of  July  to  the  8th  of  August. 
One  or  two  detachments  were  sent  out  in  the  mean  time, 
one  of  which,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Cass,  soon 
after  the  army  crossed,  drove  in  a  picket  stationed  on  the 
bridge  over  the  river  Canard,  only  a  few  miles  from 
Mnlden,  and  look  posjscssion  of  it,  advisinj!:  General  Hull 


31 


of  the  movement,  and  recommending  nn  immediate  at- 
tack on  that  place.  The  recommendation  was  slighted, 
and  the  detachment  ordered  to  return,  leaving  the  ene- 
my to  reoccupy  a  station,  highly  important  to  either  par- 
ty, in  the  event  of  a  future  attack. 

While  these  slothful  and  fruitless  operations  were  go- 
ing on  below,  the  island  of  Michilimackinac  above,  had 
been  captured  by  the  enemy.  The  British  at  St.  Jo- 
seph's having  been  promptly  apprised  of  the  rupture  be- 
tween the  two  countries,  an  expedition,  consisting  of  a 
few  regulars,  some  Canadian  militia,  and  a  large  body 
of  Indians,  was  immediately  prepared  against  the  post 
at  Michilimackinac.  Lieutenant  Hanks,  who  command- 
ed at  that  island,  was  first  informed  of  hostilities,  by  a 
summons  from  the  British  commandant,  under  the  walls 
of  his  Fort,  to  surrender.  He  at  once  submitted  on  hon- 
ourable terms,  having  no  reason  to  anticipate  succor,  and 
feeling  unable  long  to  hold  out  against  such  a  force.  It 
was  perhaps  fortunate  that  he  obeyed  the  dictates  of  pru- 
dence rather  than  gallantry,  as  it  appears  by  the  semi- 
official communication  of  one  of  the  British  agents  in 
the  transaction,  that  the  Indians  were  prepared  to  retal- 
iate the  slightest  resistance  with  an  indiscriminate  mas- 
sacre.   The  surrender  took  place  on  the  17th  of  July* 

During  General  Hull's  delay  at  Sandwich,  within 
striking  distance  of  Maiden,  General  Brock,  taking  ad- 
vantage of  an  adroit  manoeuvre  of  Sir  George  Prevost, 
who  persuaded  General  Dearborn  to  enter  into  an  ar- 
mistice, which  suspended  all  operations  as  high  up  as  the 
Niagara  frontier,  moved  up  the  province,  to  the  relief  of 
that  place. 

On  the  9th  of  August,  General  Hull  recrossed  the  riv- 
er Detroit,  and  abandoned  Canada,  after  an  inglorious  oc- 
cupation of  less  than  a  month.    The  reasons  alleged  for 

4 


(    * 


i  I 


taking  this  «tc|) — which  appears  to  have  been  condemned 
by  \m  army — were,  timt  \m  communication  with  Ohio, 
the  source  of  his  supply  of  provisions,  could  not  be  easily 
maintained  while  he  remained  on  the  Canada  side.     He 
hnd  likewise  indirect  information  that.  General  Brock,  by 
some  arrangement  below,  wvxM  be  nt  liberty  soon  to  as- 
sist, by  strong  succors,  the  upper  Province.     The  news 
of  the  surrender  of  Michilimackinac,  which  would  disen- 
gage the  numerous  northern  tribes  of  Indians,  also  threw 
weight  irito  a  scale,  already  inclined  to  preponderate  on 
the  timid  side.     Previous  to  recrossing.  General  Mull 
had  detached  Major  Vanhorn  with  about  <  wo  bundi  rS 
men  towards  the  river  Raisin,  to  escort  some  provisions 
which  were  at  that  place  on  their  rouU?  to  Detroit.    The 
detachment  was  surprised  by  a  paity  of  Indians  near 
Brownstown,  and  retreated  in  disorder  back  to  Detroit, 
leaving  some  dead  on  the  field.     The  day  on  which  the 
army  recrossed,  Colonel  Miller,  with  another  detachment, 
consisting  of  the  4th  Regiment,  and  a  body  of  militia, 
amounting  to  about  600  men,  wos  sent  down  the  river 
to  remedy  the  disaster.     About  the  middle  of  the  after- 
noon,  his  advanced  guard  under  the  command  of  Cap- 
tain Snelling,  met  the  enemy  near  Maguaga.   This  guard 
gallantly  maintained  its  position  until  sustained  by  the 
main  body,  which  was  soon  led  up  by  Colonel  Miller. 
The  British  and  Indians  were  jHJsted  behind  a  rude 
breastwork,  thrown  up  in  the  woods.    They  were  dig- 
lodged  after  a  short  contest,  and  retreated  with  precipi- 
tation to  their  boats,  in  which  they  crossed  the  river 
again,  leaving  the  Americans  undisputed  masters  of  the 
field  and  the  route  to  the  river  Raisin.    But  Colonel 
Miller  was  detained  on  the  battle-ground  until  the  next 
day  by  the  want  of  proviwons,  which  were  to  have  fol- 
lowed him.    The  noxt  day  he  was   ;  d^red  back  to  De- 


> 


2U 


tndcmnetl 
^ith  Ohio, 
be  easily 
licie.     He 
Brock,  by 
oon  to  a8- 
rho  news 
lid  disen- 
Iso  threw 
lernte  on 
)ral  TIuU 
hundi  f! 
rnviaions 
•It.    The 
iana  near 
•  Detroit, 
t^hich  the 
achment, 
f  militia, 
the  river 
he  after- 
of  Cap- 
^is  guard 
d  by  the 
;I  Miller, 
a  rude 
vere  dig- 
precipi- 
he  river 
's  of  the 
Colonel 
the  next 
have  fol- 
k  to  De- 


troit, the  iniaupprchciisiuiis  or  tiinitlity  of  tiic  (jSuiu>rnl 
having  led  him  to  buliuve  that,  altliou^'-Ji  victorious,  the 
detachment  lind  gained  no  ground  further  thiur'th)  [mntn 
of  the!  bayonets  extended."*  On  the  13tli  uiatant  still 
liovingthc  siif''  arrival  of  the  proviaionsut  i!  :  rivet  A...usin 
in  view,  Colonela  ivl' Arthur  and  Cass  were  detached,  by 
a  back  route,  through  the  ibrr^t,  on  that  service. 

On  the  1  ithof  August,  General  IJrock  arrived  at  Mai- 
den with  a  reinforcement.  With  a  promptitude  charac- 
teristic of  his  bold  and  enliqirising  s^enius,  he  at  once 
moved  up  to  Sandwich  ;  and  on  the  lath  summoned  din- 
eral  Hull  to  surrender.  Regarding  their  relative  strength, 
General  Hull  having  the  most  numerous  force — and 
their  relative  position,  the  two  armies  being  separated 
by  a  broad  and  deep  river, — such  a  summons  wesfs 
the  aspect  of  an  empty  gasconade.  But  General  Brock 
had  penetrated  into  the  weuknest*  of  his  opponents  cha- 
racter, and  knew  that  even  a  gu  onade  could  assail  it 
with  effect.  Bespeaking  confuloi  ce  and  spirit  on  one 
side,  it  would  be  likely  to  create  distrust  and  despondency 
on  the  other.  Such  was  the  eifet  in  the  present  in- 
stance, though  not  immediately  disj  layed.  The  reply 
of  General  Hull  was  a  decisive  negatnc,  though  accom- 
panied by  certain  explanations  whit  i  were  not  called 
for,  and  made  in  a  tone  of  deprecation,  which,  if  other 
evidence  were  wanting,  might  have  instructed  an  intelli- 
gent enemy  in  the  imbecility  of  his  ant:  jionist.  Subse- 
quent disclosures  showed  that  Genera  1  Brock  did  not 
want  such  evidence.  On  his  arrival  at  I  alden,  with  the 
tact  of  a  skilful  commander,  he  at  once  adeavoured  to 
ascertain  the  character  of  the  Amei  ican  ieneral.  It  is 
said  that  the  vessel  captured  at  Maiden  d  atained  much 


*  General  Hull's  letter  to  the  Sccictary  of  War. 


1.^ 


J 


wl^ 


24 

of  his  recent  correspondence.  The  anxious  and  shrink- 
ing spirit  which  pervaded  this  correspondence,  combin- 
ed with  the  timid  and  procrastinating  operations  of  Gen- 
eral Hull,  while  he  had  a  foothold  in  Canada,  immedi- 
ately convinced  him,  (as  he  afterwards  frankly  told  an 
American  Officer  of  rank,)*  that  he  had  only  to  assume 
a  front  of  boldness  and  decision,  to  insure  an  easy  victory. 
It  was  thus,  by  that  penetration  and  promptitude  which 
belongs  to  gifted  minds,  that  the  British  General  saw  and 
compassed  a  result,  which  could  be  accounted  for  by  the 
world,  only  by  supposing  bribery  on  one  side  and  treach- 
ery on  the  other.  He  did  not  attempt  to  tamper  with 
an  integrity  which,  we  firmly  believe,  would  have  resist- 
ed all  temptations  of  that  nature  with  firmness  and 
indignation  ;  but  he  detected  a  weakness  and  irresolution, 
which  could  be  far  more  effectually  and  successfully 
assailed,  and  which  at  once  gave  his  numerically  equal 
force  an  overwhelming  superiority. 

As  soon  as  General  Brock  received  the  answer  of 
General  Hull  to  his  summons  (the  tenor  of  which  he  no 
doubt  anticipated,  as  the  most  craven  spirit  waits  for  a 
sufficient  and  plausible  excuse  for  yielding  to  its  fears)  a 
cannonade  was  opened  on  Detroit  from  batteries,  which 
had  been  suffered  to  be  constructed  without  the  least 
attempt  at  hindrance.    It  was  returned  by  others,  which 
had  long  been  in  readiness  on  our  side,  but  which  had 
thus  far  been  muzzled  in  silence.  The  position  of  a  small 
vessel,  belonging  to  the  British,  on  the  evening  of  the  1 5th 
rendered  it  probable  that  General  Brock  intended  to 
cross  the  river  at  Springwells,  either  in  the  night,  or 
early  in  the  morning.     To  observe  such  a  movement, 
Capt.  Snelling  was  sent  with  a  small  detachment  to  that 

*  Governor  (then  Colonel)  Cass. 


l! 


•''iwwwi*;.  -u.-.saT's»!!»i«r»  ■ 


35 

point.  Several  officers  recommended  that  a  heavy  piece 
of  ordnance  should  be  placed  there,  both  to  compel  the 
vessel  to  remove,  and  obstruct  any  attempt  to  cross. 
Much  might  have  been  effected  by  such  a  piece,  which» 
in  the  event  of  a  necessity  to  abandon  it,  might  have  been 
dismounted  and  rendered  temporarily  unserviceable. 
But  the  detachment  was  ordered  to  return  to  Detroit  by 
break  of  day,  and  General  Brock  made  an  early  transit,'* 
with  his  whole  force,  without  any  molestation.  He 
marched  in  column  up  the  river  road,  having,  according 
to  the  most  impartial  computation,  about  one  thousand 
men,  including  militia  and  Indians,  ^  who  probably 
constituted  nearly  one  half  of  his  numbers. 

General  Brock  made  a  short  halt  at  the  small  bridge 
about  a  mile  below  Detroit,  and  took  breakfast  there, 
as  if  awaiting  the  effects  of  the  panic  which  his 
bold  movements  would  probably  strike  in  his  opponent. 
Evidence  of  this  was  soon  made  manifest.  General  Hull's 
Aid  being  about  this  time  sent  over  the  river  with  a  flag 
of  truce.  General  Brock  immediately  sent  forward  a 
messenger  to  enquire  the  purpose  of  this  flag.  An  answer 
was  returned  by  General  Hull,  leading  at  once  to  that 
negotiation,  which  soon  terminated  in  a  surrender. 

While  this  interchange  of  messages  was  taking  place, 
General  Hull,  at  the  suggestion  of  one  of  his  staff,  permit- 
ted arrangements  to  be  made  for  defence  without  the 
Fort,  which,  had  the  battle  been  faught,  as  was  then 
anticipated  by  every  one,  excepting  perhaps  General 
Hull  himself,  would  have  contributed  much  to  a  favorable 
result.  The  British  were  without  artillery,  and  pursued 
a  line  of  march,  with  the  river  on  one  flank,  and  orchards, 
enclosed  by  strong  fences,  affording  excellent  positions 
for  annoyance  and  attack,  on  the  other,  exposing  them- 
selves with  a  daring  recklessness,  which  nothing  but  a 


26 


reliance  on  the  imbecility  of  the  enemy  could  have  justi- 
fied. 

Instead  of  availing  himself  of  any  of  these  means  of 
offence,  General  Hull  seems  to  have  avoided  all  possible 
collision,  which  might  frustrate  the  capitulation  then 
determined  on.  All  the  troops  were  withdrawn  from 
the  excellent  positions  they  had  taken,  and  ordered  to 
*fconcentrate  within  the  Fort — already  sufficiently  garri- 
soned by  the  4th  Regiment — as  if  from  an  apprehension, 
that,  wliile  there  remained  a  chance  of  contact  with  the 
enemy,  their  ardor  might  burst  forth  without  orders, 
and  avert  the  disgrace  which  impended  over  them. 

It  does  not  appear  that  General  Hull,  in  coming  to 
the  resolution  of  capitulating,  took  any  other  council  than 
from  his  own  fears.  He  hinted  to  the  gallant  Colonel 
Miller,  who  was  then  sick,  his  intention  tu  send  a  flag, 
and  when  advised  to  consult  his  officers,  sxii  that  there 
was  no  time  for  consultation.  General  Brock,  in  his 
summons  on  the  I5th,  had  introduced  the  very  common 
threat,  that  in  case  a  surrender  was  not  immediately 
made,  he  could  not  answer  for  the  conduct  of  his  Indians, 
who  might  be  exasperated  by  resistance.  This  empty 
menace  may  have  shaken  a  mind,  exhausted  and  sinking 
beneath  the  weight  of  responsibility  and  embarrassments ; 
for  the  whole  tenor  of  General  Hull's  conduct  on  the 
morning  of  the  surrender,  seems  to  have  showed  an 
excessive  anxiety  to  avoid  all  hostility,  which  might  give 
pretence  for  putting  it  in  execution.  Even  while  the 
articles  were  being  signed,  a  British  detachment  is  said 
to  have  approached  the  Fort,  and  scarcely  waited  until 
the  American  flag  had  been  struck,  before  it  took  pos- 
session. The  articles  of  capitulation  embraced  the 
detachment  under  Colonel  M'Arthur,  whicli,  although 
within  striking  distance  of  Detroit,  was  not  known  by 


1 


87 


H 


(reneral  Hull  to  be  in  its  neighborhoo<l ;  and  also,  the 
party  with  Captain  Brush  at  the  river  Raisin,  nearly 
thirty  miles  distance.  This  sweep  of  all  under  his  con- 
trol within  the  vortex  of  surrender,  may  have  proceeded 
from  a  morbid  solicitude  for  their  protection  from  Indian 
massacre,  rather  than  from  a  wish  to  make  the  ruin  as 
wide-spread  as  possible.  The  first  detachment,  being  too 
near  to  retreat  with  safety,  submitted  with  the  rest.  That 
at  the  river  Raisin,  temporarily  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Rowland,  rejected  the  terms,  and  effected  its 
retreat  into  Ohio. 

Thus  terminated  General  Hull's  campaign  on  the 
North- Western  frontier.  A  disaster,  in  the  very  outset 
of  the  war,  of  so  serious  and  humiliating  a  character, 
threw  a  disheartening  gloom  over  the  whole  country. 
It  exhibited  a  weakness  and  insufficiency  in  our  military 
management,  strikingly  and  lamentably  unsuited  to  the 
arduous  struggle  in  which  we  had  engaged.  Awkward- 
ness and  imbecility  secmOT  to  pervade  every  Department, 
from  the  War-office  to  the  very  skirts  of  our  operations. 
An  overflowing  measure  of  obloquy  was  cast  upon 
General  Hull  in  consequence  of  this  event.  Indignation 
and  vituperation  followed  him  into  his  captivity,  and  met 
him  on  his  return  to  his  country.  He  was  soon  after 
subjected  to  a  trial,  which,  after  a  most  thorough,  and  ^h 
we  have  reason  to  believe,  impartial  investigation,  result- 
ed in  awarding  the  extreme  punishment  of  the  law — a 
sentence  of  death.  This  sentence  was  accompanied  by 
a  recommendation  to  mercy,  which  of  course  prevailed 
with  the  President  of  the  United  States,  on  whose  decis- 
ion the  prisoner's  ultimate  fate  depended. 

The  lapse  of  time  mellowed  the  asperity  of  opinions, 
and  when,  on  the  brink  of  the  grave,  General  Hull  made 
an  eloquent  appeal  from  the  judgment  of  the  court  which 


r 

I 


98 

condemned  him,  he  seems  to  have  won,  through  convic- 
tion or  compassion,  many  among  his  neighbors  to  abehef 
m  his  innocence.  A  public  proof  of  this  sentiment  was 
given  in  Boston,  which  probably  served  to  assuage  the 
bitterness  of  his  past  lot,  and  to  cast  a  gleam  of  sunshme 
on  the  short  remnant  of  his  days. 

While  we  would  not  unnecessarily  disturb  the  repose 
of  his  ashes,  it  is  the  duty  of  impartial  history  to  examine 
into,  and  decide  on  an  event,  in  which  the  public  have  a 
concern  paramount  to  that  of  any  individual.     That 
General  Hull  stated  the  necessity  of  naval  co-operation 
on  Lake  Erie,  and  that  he  deemed  it  essential  to  his 
success,  may  be  fully  admitted,  and  had  there  been  the 
slightest  forecast  in  the  preparation  for  the  North-West- 
ern  campaign,  no  doubt  this  important  auxiliary  would 
%      have  been  provided.    Nothing  but  the  same  blindness 
and  inefficiency  which  exposed  every  north-western  post 
to  capture,  even  before  they  were  aware  of  the  war, 
would  have  neglected  so  essential  a  part  of  the  plan. 
But  the  immediate  cause  of  General  Hull's  numerous 
failures,  does  not  appear  to  be  attributable  to  so  remote 
a  source.    Notwithstanding  the  many  difficulties  he  had 
to  surmount  in  his  march,  he  reached  Detroit  in  safety, 
with  a  force  fully  adequate  to  effect  the  purposes  directly 
in  view.    The  Upper  Canadian  Province  was  almost 
defenceless,  having  only  a  small  detachment  of  troops  at 
Maiden,  and  a  Fort  which  scarcely  deserved  the  name. 
When  he  crossed  into  Canada,  he  not  only  met  with  no 
opposition,  but  found  most  of  the  inhabitants  neutral,  or 
positively  friendly.     Many  pretexts  have  been  urged  to 
excuse  the  delay  of  an  attack  on  Maiden,  which,  we  have 
every  reason  to  presume,  only  waited  the  appearance  of 
General  Hull,  with  his  army,  to  surrender.     Such  an 
event,  although  not  of  much  importance,  as  the  place  was 


# 


<)1 


scarcely  tenable,  would  have  had  the  double  effect  of 
encouraging  the  Americans,  and  discouraging  the  British. 
And  it  might  have  prevented  the  movement  of  General 
Brock,  who  would  probably  have  doubted  the  expediency 
of  attempting  a  re-conquest  of  the  upper  Province  with 
such  a  small  force. 

The  return  to  Detroit,  at  a  time  when  every  object  in 
Canada  had  been  rendered  nearly  unattainable  by  delay 
and  mismanagement,  was  perhaps  a  prudent  step.  An 
attack  could  have  been  made  by  General  Brock  on  that 
side  of  the  river  with  the  chances  of  success  greatly 
multiplied.  The  movement  of  Colonel  Miller  towards 
the  river  Raisin,  after  the  battle  of  Maguaga,  could  have 
been  made  without  any  probable  molestation.  The 
discomfiture  of  the  British  and  Indians  had  been  com- 
plete, and  all  obstructions  were  removed,  at  least  for  a 
time.  Having  effected  the  object  in  view,  the  whole 
army  would  have  been  concentrated  at  Detroit.  The 
batteries  opposite  to  Detroit  were  permitted  to  rise 
without  any  attempt  at  hindrance.  Not  even  a  gun 
(many  of  which  were  ready  for  effect)  was  allowed  to 
be  fired  ;  and  the  suggestion  of  Major  Jessup,  to  carry 
them  by  a  nocturnal  attack,  was  treatcu  with  neglect. 
The  transit  of  General  Brock  at  Springwells  may  not 
have  been  prevented  by  such  a  force  as  prudence  would 
have  placed  at  that  distance  from  the  main  body.  But 
even  such  a  detachment  as  was  on  the  spot,  might  have 
given  much  molestation,  and  caused  some  loss,  espe- 
cially if  it  had  been  assisted  by  a  field  piece.  General 
Brock's  march  from  that  place  towards  the  town,  was 
continually  exposed  to  obstacles,  which  the  slightest 
generalship  or  enterprise  would  have  rendered  formida- 
ble. The  approach  to  the  Fort  was  lined  with  defences, 
which  would  have  enabled  resolute  l,roops  to  dispute 

6 


30 


tjvci'y  inch  of  grounds  The  Fort  itself  was  a  strong, 
bastioned  work,  every  way  fitted  for  a  short  siege,  and, 
after  all  obstacles  had  been  removed,  might  for  a  time 
have  defied  the  British,  destitute,  as  they  were,  of  artil- 
lery. The  ramparts  were  in  good  repair,  the  ditches 
deep,  and  bristling  with  pickets  ;  and  the  4th  Regiment 
alone  was  a  garrison  that  could  have  resisted  any  coup 
de  main.  If  provisions  were  not  abundant,  there  was 
at  least  a  present  sufiliciency,  as  well  also  as  of  ammuni- 
tion. 

When  General  Brock  landed  at  Springwells,  he  was 
informed,  by  an  Indian,  of  the  approach'  of  Colonel 
M'Arthur's  detachment  in  his  rear ;  and  he  is  said  to 
have  precipitated  his  march  towards  Detroit,  lest  the 
previous  arrival  of  this  reinforcement  should  defeat  his 
plans.  Although  there  was  no  concert  of  action  between 
Colonel  M'Arthur  and  General  Hull,  as  the  latter 
appears  to  have  been  unapprised  that  the  former  was 
so  near  at  hand,  yet,  had  only  a  few  hours  resistance 
been  maintained,  this  detachment  would  have  come  in 
as  a  powerful  and  probably  decisive  diversion  in  Gen- 
eral Hull's  favor. 

Indeed,  after  the  most  thorough  and  impartial  investi- 
gation of  this  disastrous  event,  it  is  difficult  to  avoid  the 
conclusion,  that  it  resulted  from  mismanagement  and 
inefficiency ;  and  that  the  exercise  of  ordinary  generalship 
and  spirit,  would  have  converted  those  days  of  humiha- 
tion  and  sorrow,  into  days  of  triumph  and  rejoicing. 

A  provisional  government  was  established  by  the 
British  at  Detroit,  and  a  small  force  placed  in  the  Fort. 
The  Indians,  who  were  numerous,  and  claimed  large 
rewards  for  their  co-operation,  and  who  were  but  slightly, 
if  at  all,  restrained  by  the  garrison,  carried  plunder  and 
devastation  into  almost  every  house,  and  through  almost 


nd, 
ime 
rtil- 
hes 
ent 
>up 
vas 
ini- 

ivQa 
nel 
I  to 
the 
his 
Jen 
ter 
vas 
ice 
I  in 
en- 

sti- 
the 
ind 
hip 
lia- 

the 
)rt. 
pge 

nd 
ost 


every  farm  in  the  Territory.  The  miserable  inhabitants 
had  no  alternative  but  to  submit,  or  incur  the  hazard  of 
more  aggravated  outrage.  Most  of  the  citizens  of  Detroit 
were  sent  into  exile,  and  distress  and  ruin  appeared  to 
be  the  inevitable  lot  of  all. 

Contemporaneously  with  these  events  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the   peninsula  of  Michigan,  another  disaster, 
rendered  memorable  by  the  folly  which  led  to  it,  and 
the  blood  which  accompanied  it,  occurred  on  the  was- 
tern  side,  under  the  walls  of  Chicago.     While  yet  in 
Canada,  General  Hull,  actuated,  no  doubt,  by  the  appro- 
hensions  which  made  him  regard  all  things  under  his 
control  with  trembling  anxiety,  sent  orders  to  Captain 
Heald,.who  commanded  at  Chicago,  to  evacuate  that 
Post,  and  retreat  to  Fort  Wayne.     Every  order  of  this 
unfortunate  General  appeared  to  be  pregnant  with  mis- 
fortune.     That  which  was  issued  at  this  time  to  Captain 
Heald,  involved  a  garrison,  which  had  ample  means  of 
defence  at  its  Post,  in  disgrace  and  blood.     The  order 
for  evacuation  was  received  on  the   9th  of  August. 
Captain  Wells,  of  the  Indian  Department  who,  with  a 
few  faithful  Miamies,  was  to  guide  the  retreat,  mistrust- 
ing the  fidelity  of  the  Potawatamies,  recommended  an 
immediate  evacuation,  before  that  tribe  should  have  time 
to  concentrate  around  the  Fort.    His  recommendation 
was  disregarded,  and,  in  a  short  time,  more  than  four 
hundred  of  them  had  collected  in  the  neighborhood.    In 
order  to  secure  their  forbearance,  a  promise  was  made 
to  them,  that  all  the  surplus  stores  of  the  Fort  should  be 
left  at  their  disposal.    Captain  Heald  prudently  foresaw 
that  large  quantities  of  whiskey  and  powder,  such  as 
were  then  on  hand,  might  be  dangerous  gifts  to  the 
Indians,  and  resolved  to  destroy  clandestinely  as  much 
of  them  as  possible  before  the  evacuation.    He  accor^ 


Si 


dingly,  during  the  nights,  when  the  InrlionR  were  not 
present,  threw  most  of  the  powder  into  a  well,  and  was- 
ted a  greater  part  of  the  whiskey.  The  Indians  are  said 
to  have  obtained  some  intimation  or  knowledge  of  these 
nocturnal  transactions  ;  and,  regarding  them  as  an 
infringement  of  their  rights,  may  have  then  conceived 
the  plan  of  vengeance,  which  they  afterwards  so  fearfully 
executed. 

After  the  Potawatamies  had  assembled  in  such  num- 
bers, both  Cnptain  Wells  and  Mr.  Kinzie  (who  was  an 
Indian  Agent  at  the  place,  and  knew  well  the  character 
and  feelings  of  these  Indians)  represented  to  Captain 
Heald  that  a  retreat  would  then  be  unsafe.  But  their 
representptions  had  no  effect.  He  had  neglected  to 
make  it  at  a  time  when  no  obstacles  were  in  the  way, 
and,  by  delaying  in  order  to  destroy  the  surplus  whiskey 
and  ammunition,  had  deprived  himself  of  the  means  of 
remaining,  when  it  had  become  prudent  and  proper  to 
do  so. 

On  the  1 5th  of  August,  the  garrison,  consisting  of  54 
regular  troops  and  12  militia-men,  together  with  several 
families,  evacuated  the  Fort.  When  about  a  mile  on  its 
mfxrch.  Captain  Heald  observed  that  the  Indians  were 
preparing  for  an  attack,  and  made  dispositions  for 
defence.  A  short  conflict  ensued,  in  which  about  one 
half  of  the  garrison,  and  some  women  and  children,  were 
killed,  when  Captain  Heald  surrendered.  The  Fort  was 
burnt  by  the  Indians  the  next  morning,  and  the  prisoners 
were  distributed  among  the  bands. 

The  most  distinguished  victim  of  this  short  and  san- 
guinary action,  was  Captain  Wells.  In  his  chagrin  and 
despondency  at  the  fate  which  the  wilfulness  and  blind- 
ness of  Captain  Heald  was  bringing  upon  the  whole 
retreating  party,  he  had,  according  to  the  custom  of  the 


( \ 


not 
'as- 
laid 
ese 
an 
i^ed 
illy 

im- 
an 
iter 
ain 
leir 
to 

ay. 

iey 
J  of 
•to 

54 
jral 

its 
ere 
for 
)ne 
ere 
(^as 
ers 

an- 
md 
id- 
olc 
the 


( » 


savages  under  such  feelings,  blackened  his  face,  and  was 
thus  found  among  the  slain.  We  have  already  alluded 
to  his  services  and  gallantry  in  General  Wayne's  cam- 
paign. His  singular  and  eventful  life,  the  energy  and 
boldness  of  his  character,  entitle  him  to  a  passing  notice. 
He  was,  while  a  child,  captured  by  the  Indians,  and 
became  the  adopted  son  of  the  Little  Turtle,  the  most 
eminent  forest  Warrior  and  Statesman  of  his  time.  In 
the  defeats  of  Harmar  and  St.  Clair  he  took  a  distin- 
guished part,  commanding  in  the  latter  action,  three 
hundred  young  Warriors,  who  were  posted  immediately 
in  front  of  the  artillery,  and  caused  such  carnage  among 
those  who  served  it.  He  arranged  his  party  behind  logs 
and  trees  immediately  under  the  knoll  on  which  the  guns 
were  placed,  and  thence,  almost  uninjured,  picked  off  the 
artillerists,  until,  it  is  said,  their  bodies  were  heaped  up 
almost  to  the  height  of  the  pieces. 

After  this  sanguinary  affair,  his  forecast  led  him  to 
anticipate  the  final  ascendency  of  the  Whites,  who  would 
be  roused,  by  these  reverses,  to  such  exertions,  as  must 
be  successful  with  their  preponderance  of  power;  and 
he  resolved  to  abandon  the  savages.  His  mode  of  an- 
nouncing this  determination,  was  in  accordance  with  the 
simple  and  sententious  habits  of  a  forest  life.  He  was 
traversing  the  woods  in  the  morning  with  his  adopted 
father,  the  Little  Turtle,  when,  pointing  to  the  Heavens, 
he  said,  "  When  the  sun  reaches  the  meridian,  I  leave 
you  for  the  whites ;  and  whenever  you  meet  me  in  battle, 
you  must  kill  me,  as  I  shall  endeavor  to  do  the  same 
with  you."  The  bonds  of  affection  and  respect  which 
had  bound  these  two  singular  and  highly  gifted  men 
together,  were  not  severed  or  weakened  by  this  abrupt 
dereliction.  Captain  Wells  soon  after  joined  Wayne's 
army,  and,  by  his  intimacy  with  the  wilderness,  his  per- 


)^l 


34 

feet  knowledge  of  the  Indian  haunts,  habits,  and  modcii 
of  warfare,  became  an  invaluable  auxiliary  to  the  Ameri. 
cans.  He  served  faithfully,  and  fought  bravely,  through 
the  campaign,  and,  at  the  close,  when  peace  had  restor- 
ed amity  between  the  Indians  and  the  Whites,  rejoined 
his  foster  father,  the  Little  Turtle  ;  and  their  friendship 
and  connexion  was  broken  only  by  the  death  of  the  latter. 
When  his  body  was  found  among  the  slain  at  Chicago, 
the  Indians  are  said  to  have  drank  his  blood,  from  a 
superstitious  belief  that  they  should  thus  imbibe  his  war- 
like  endowmc!  ts,  which  had  been  considered  by  them 
as  preeminent. 

During  the  fall  and  winter  succeeding  these  events. 
General  Harrison  had  been  collecting  an  army  for  the 
purpose  of  recovering  the  North- wonern  frontier.    Hav- 
ing advanced  as  far  as  Sanduskj-,  he  detached  General 
Winchester,  in  advance,  to  the  Maumee.     General  Win- 
chester sent  forward  a  foraging  pariy  as  far  as  the  river 
Raisin,  which  reached  that  place  the  ISt.h  January,  1813, 
and  dislodged  a  body  of  Indians  found  there.     The  next 
day.  General  Winchester,  with  his  main  body,  joined  this 
advance,  having  a  force  of  about  one  thousand  men.    He 
encamped  on  the  le.>  bank  of  the  river ;  but  although 
forewarned   of  the   approach  of  a  hostile  party  from 
Maiden,  it  does  not  appear  that  he  made  any  disposition 
of  his  troops  to  meet  an  emergency.    On  the  22d,  early 
in  the  morning,  his  camp  was  attacked  by  the  British 
and  Indians.    Portions  of  the  line  defended  themselves 
with  obstinacy  and  success,  particularly  the  left,  under 
Major  Madison.    General  Winchester  himself,  had  taken 
lodgings  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,*  at  some  dis- 
tance from  the  scene  of  action  ;  and  we  have  understood 


♦Colonel  Robert  Navarre,  at  whose  house  General  Winchester  lode- 
ed,  stated  this  fact.  " 


'      I      < 


I  l> 


kIcu 
leri* 
ugh 
tor- 
ncd 
ship 
ter. 

igo. 
a  a 
rar« 
lem 

tits, 
the 
av- 
iral 
in- 
ver 
13, 
sxt 
his 
»e 

gh 
)m 
on 

•ly 
sh 
es 
er 
3n 
is- 

Kl 

g- 


I  l< 


35 

that  he  was  captured  before  he  joined  his  troops.    Being 
without  any  general  direction,  the  line,  with  the  exception 
before  mentioned,  soon  fell  into  confusion,  and  gave 
way.    A  retreat  was  made  across  the  river;  but  the 
savages,  who  anticipated  such  a   movement,  were  in 
readiness  there  to  meet  the  fugitives,  and  few  escaped 
the  slaughter.      Major  Madison  continued   to  defend 
himself,  until  informed  by  General  Winchester-then  a 
prisoner-that  his  party  had  been  surrendered.     The 
obligation  to  submit  to  terms  concluded  under  such  cir- 
cumstances,  is  more  than  doubtful ;  and  it  is  probable 
that  the  gallant  Major,  deserted  by  all  the  rest  of  the  line, 
saw  no  chance  of  final  success,  and  surrendered  as  much 
from  hard  necessity,  as  in  obedience  to  the  orders  of  his 
captive  General. 

The  bloody  scene  which  followed  this  disastrous  morn- 
ing,  has  given  a  celebrity  to  the  spot,  far  beyond  the 
importance  of  this  event.     The  massacre  at  the  river 
Raisin  will  remain  a  sanguinary  blot  on  the  military  fame 
of  Britain,  as  long  as  her  history  shall  be  faithfully  told. 
Most  of  the   wounded  were  collected   in  one  or  two 
nouses  near  the  battle  ground.     General  Winchester, 
whose  situation  enabled  him  to  observe  the  conduct  and 
disposition  of  the  Anglo-savages,  felt  an  apprehension 
for  the  fate  of  these  unfortunate  sufferers,  and  frequently 
reminded  General  Proctor  of  his  solemn  engagement  to 
protect  them.    Whether  his  comparatively  small  number 
of  regular  troops  could  not  control  the  cannibal  ferocity 
of  his  allies,  or  whether  he  looked  on  their  bloody  orgies 
without  opposition  or  remonstrance,  may  be  left  undeter- 
mined by  the  charity  of  history,  as  long  as  the  proofs  are 
at  all  questionable.    There  appears  to  be  a  dark  shadow, 
suited  to  the  blackness  of  the  transaction,  resting  over  it, 
and  nothing  perhaps  is  distinctly  known,  excepting  the 


horrible  result.  Butchery  and  conflagmtion  were  at 
work  through  the  night,  and  these  unhappy  victims,  who 
trusted  to  the  mercy,  or  honor  of  the  British  character, 
were  mostly,  if  not  all,  buried  under  a  heap  of  smoulder- 
ing ruins. 

This  series  of  events  so  unfortunate  for  the  Americans 
and  so  triumphant  for  the  British,  filled  the  inhabitants 
of  Michigan  with  despondency,  and  seemed  to  leave 
them  in  hopeless  subjection  to  a  foreign  dominion.  Gen- 
ei-al  Harrison's  operations  on  the  frontiers  of  Ohio,  threw 
an  occasional  gleam  on  their  dark  fortunes.  The  signal 
triumph  of  Croghan  at  Sandusky,  and  some  of  the  events 
at  Fort  Meigs,  tihowed  that  victory  might  still  revisit  the 
American  arms.  These  operations,  however,  had  no 
immediate  influence  on  the  condition  of  the  Territory, 
until  Perry's  victory,  the  10th  September  1813  opened 
a  passage  over  the  lake  for  the  American  forces.  This 
brilliant  and  important  naval  action,  which  was  so  instru- 
mental in  restoring  Michigan  to  the  Union,  deserves 
particular  notice,  as  an  essential  part  of  her  history. 

Commodore  Perry's  fleet  had  been  built,  under  great 
disadvantages,  at  Erie,  Penn.  The  bar  at  the  mouth  of 
the  harbour  would  not  permit  the  vessels  to  pass  out  with 
their  armament  on  board.  For  some  time  after  the  fleet 
was  ready  to  sail,  the  British  Commodore  continued  to 
hover  oflf  the  harbor,  well  knowing  it  must  either  remain 
there  inactive,  or  venture  out  with  almost  a  certainty  of 
defeat.  During  this  blockade.  Commodore  Perry  had  no 
alternative  but  to  ride  at  anchor  at  Erie.  Fortunately, 
early  in  September,  the  enemy  relaxed  his  vigilance,  and 
with  drew  to  the  upper  end  of  the  Lake.  Commodore 
Pcriy  seized  the  opportune  moment  to  pass  the  bar,  and  fit 
his  vessels  for  action.  This  triumph  over  the  vigilance  of 
the  British  was  a  presage  of  the  still  greater  triumph  that 


«  • 


« 


.'J7 

£:£if;="-"'.:Hi 

nim»cll  and  his  fortunes  on  tl,c  boson,  of  ll,o  Uke  «„,i,l 
the  showers  of  death  that  fell  around  hi,n     Reml,t^^h 

.J„j  1     .1,  5^ '  ""'''•  alrmdy  somewhat  crin. 

led  by  the  contest  with  the  Lawrence.    The  N  lam 

iicr  might,  and,  ranging  by  the  vessels  in  success,  „,  .„,! 

pouring  ,„  her  broadsides,  compelled  then,  one  l/ut' 

other  o  lower  Uieir  flags  ii,  token  of  subJssion    „nt 

hey  ai,  „„^  „„„,,,„.     ,_,  achievingthisdecisivlv  I'etot 

we^brThrt"'''^"  "^ ''"""*'  vessels,  S 
were  t^rought  into  co-operation  by  Captain  Elliot    who 
l.ad  volunteered  in  this  service  when  Commodo^  Perrv 
assumed  command  of  his  vessel.     Not  long  TnT  Com 
-d^Perryb^aj^edUjel^^ 

6 


38 

her  colors.  She  was,  however,  but  a  fleeting  trophy,  for 
before  she  could  be  taken  possession  of,  every  British 
flag  had  followed  her  humiliating  example. 

This  consummate  victory  opened  the  Lake  to  General 
Harrison,  who  soon  after  crossed  his  army  to  the  Cana- 
dian shore,  and,  in  the  course  of  a  short  campaign,  which 
was  brilliantly  finished  by  the  battle  of  the  Moravian 
towns,  drove  the  enemy  from  the  North  Western  frontiei-. 
On  the  29th  September,  1813,  Detroit  was  occupied  by 
a  detachment  of  his  army.  An  armistice  was  concluded 
with  the  Indians  on  the  18th  of  October  following;  thus 
restoring  tranquillity  and  security  to  the  Territory. 

General  Harrison  soon  after  moved  down  with  his 
main  body  to  the  Niagara  frontier,  and  left  General  Cass 
in  command  at  Detroit.  No  military  movements  took 
place  during  the  winter  following,  excepting  an  incursion 
into  the  interior  of  the  Upper  Province  by  Major  Holmes, 
who  was  attacked  near  Stoney  Creek,  and  maintained 
his  ground  with  great  bravery  and  success. 

In  the  month  of  July  1814,  an  expedition  was  concert- 
ed for  the  purpose  of  recovering  the  Island  of  Michili- 
mackinac,*  th-  only  part  of  the  Territory  then  remaining 
in  the  possession  of  the  British.  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Croghan,  who  had  so  gallantly  defended  his  post  at  San- 
dusky, had  command  of  the  land  forces,  and  Commodore 
Sinclair  of  the  fleet  which  transported  them.  The  ex- 
pedition reached  the  neighborhood  of  the  island  in  safe- 
ty ;  and  had  the  attack  been  made  without  delay,  it  is 
probable  that  the  post  would  have  fallen.     The  chances 


, .  ,^r  ^  documents  within  my  reach  relative  to  tlic  cxpediticm  against 
Micluhmackmac,  were  imperfect  niid  meagre.  I  could  find  neither  Colonel 
Croghan's  official  account,  nor  Major  Holmes'  correspondence  on  the 
subject,  and  became  dependent  for  the  statement  embodied  in  the  address 
on  the  account  dclivereil  to  the  Detroit  Lyceum,  before  alluded  to,  and 
the  recollection  of  a  conversation  with  an  officer  who  served  in  the  expe- 
dition, ' 


«> 


39 

and  lLjJ:jZC  "i^T^-i-g  '-  Oefonee. 
and  afewday;  «,„  «»,!  i  ^""^™™g "bout the  M- 
a«d.e„tadetLht„taSl°Br^  ff™'"?'-  *'"'^' 
on  the  WandofSt  JoSt     i'      fTr?"*"'^"' 
destroyed,  as  well  as  7^.     J      '''"'"'^''n.em  was 

ordinafe  post.    AfterS  X",  "  ''""'  "'  """'^^'  ^'"'- 

WandofMiehilimackinac    1^1,      ""'«'!'"»•'>"»''  °"he 
Commandant  had  fcr  """"  ""«'•  "'<=  ^"'''l' 

Wed.„him,Ll^?;:^47^^^^^^^^^^^ 

such  aid  OS  the  country  afforded    I  ,    T' .  ''"«  '" 

waroc„ltected,whobeC  tndcr^^f     "'""""'''"■'^ 
which  the  attackwasmade  r  T™""""'""'"' 

We  have  been rforZat  "!'*""' ''■""'"»'• 
Ao  expedition,  that  cIne  "^cTofar  ™T''='' "'''' 
being  landed  on  the  south-wLterS  or?.  T™"'  "^ 
far  from  the  village     Thn  7  f      *^  '*"<'•  n»' 

.he  ascent  to    hf  hil  tab    T  T ''"'•° ''""''^'™«'^''' 

eJ:Ct;tt:f:et«"'''t:n^,;'r" 

was  then  mosti;  cove^j  j- 7  ?"  "  '"  '''™^'^'-'  »"<' 

vious  growth  of's mXes   i,liT  T'  '""""'"''"■ 
every  where  inler«r,  7 f     """""^'"f  vegetation  was 

bad  'ti. ;: 'Sv  ot  aVr' "f  """'^p"*'-  ""•=" 

pcipjeiity  of  a  labyrmth.    Hero  and  there 


/< 


40 

Were  patches  of  a  few  acres,  wliich  had  been  cleared  and 
cultivated.  Colonel  Croghan,  having  landed  his  troops 
at  a  point  nearly  opposite  to  the  Fort,  had,  of  course  to 
traverse  the  whole  width  of  the  island  amid  these  embar- 
rassing obstacles.  Every  Indian,  on  such  grounds,  was 
more  formidable  than  the  best  disciplined  soldier.  The 
numerous  auxiliaries  of  this  description,  which  the  British 
commander  had  been  able  to  collect  during  the  absence 
of  the  fleet,  were  therefore  superior  to  any  equal  rein- 
forcement of  regular  troops  he  could  have  received. 
Had  the  landing  been  made  on  the  other  side  of  the 
island,  near  the  village,  these  allies  would  have  been 
rendered  nearly  useless,  as  their  prudential  mode  of 
warfare  is  opposed  to  all  exposure  on  open  grounds. 

The  landing  wa«  easily  effected,  and  the  Americans 
suffered  to.  advance  into  the  labyrinths  of  the  island, 
nearly  to  the  centre,  unobstructed,  when,  in  approaching 
one  of  the  clearings  before  alluded  to,  the  enemy  was 
found  ready  to  receive  them.  A  desultory  firing  began 
within  the  opening,  very  annoying  and  somewhat  destruc- 
tive to  the  Americans,  when  Major  Holmes,  a  brave  and 
accomplished  officer,  was  directed  to  charge  into  the  op- 
posite thickets.  While  executing  this  order  with  great 
spirit,  he  fell,  mortally  wounded.  His  party  recoiled  upon 
the  main  body,  and  Colonel  Croghan  soon  retreated  to  his 
boats.  All  operations  of  the  expedition,  of  any  importance, 
terminated  with  this  failure,  and  the  island  of  Michilimack- 
inac  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  British  until  the  peace. 

The  interruption  of  the  civil  government  of  Michigan, 
which  began  with  the  capture  of  (Jeneral  Hull,  was 
closed  in  October  9th,  1813,  by  the  the  appointment  of 
General  Cass  as  Governor  of  the  Territory  ;  who  soon 
after  re-organized  its  institutions,  and  restored  the  ope- 
ration of  law  and  justice. 


h 


'J  .• 


w  ■■ 


* 


;«. 


n 

^^^ 


m 


■w 


^ 


^i : 


4 

^ 


# 


*. 


V  «w 


>■#► 


«^ 


% 


« 


^ 


■*»■,. 


■*% 


■» 


r 


'.» 


•««!>  , 


% 


